Style: progressive metal, power metal (clean, female vocals)
Recommended for fans of: DGM, Pagan’s Mind, power metal in general
Review by: Matt
Country: United Kingdom
Release date: 28 March, 2020
[EDITOR’S NOTE: This review was originally published in the March 2020 Part 2 edition of The Progressive Subway.]
Alright, this is more like it… We’ve had some lean times, but here’s an album I can really shill. Fractures is both a huge leap forward for an underground band, and a reminder of a time when you could play heroic power metal without hiding behind a bullshit gimmick. It’s deep, it’s accessible, and it really should put Dakesis on the map of important players in the power-prog genre.
The first thing you notice is that the composition is just vital, somehow. You can slap a bunch of orchestra on anything and make it “epic,” but the choices here are particularly flavorful. The orchestra is a persistent presence, but doesn’t overshadow the guitars, which are masterfully played by Matt Jones. I think this is the finest power metal soloist I’ve heard since, I don’t know, Gus G or something. Listen to the solo on “Overthrown” for some wankery that’s as striking compositionally as it is technically. Vocals are handled by Gemma Lawler, who sounds fittingly metal rather than operatic, and has excellent melodies to work with.
Fractures is enjoyable in the traditional speedy power sense – check out the awesome chorus on “Kairos” or “Ends of Time Part 1” – but it displays a lot of depth and variety as well. This is especially true on the epic-length title track, which overshadows the rest of the songs as an epic should. The electronic intro is an impressive bit of sound design, and the proggy parts are more intricate than elsewhere on the album. Most importantly, there’s always a clear sense of momentum and purpose, and the climax is awesome. This is definitely worthy of being placed alongside epics like Through the Looking Glass or Witness.
If I had to nitpick, I’d say that the vocals are a little “plain” on some calmer parts – compare the first song’s talky verse to its belted chorus, for instance – and the bass is played really lightly, preventing it from ever cutting through a mix. “Ends of Time Pt 2” and “Surrender Your Fears” are less exciting than the rest of the songs, though not without their merits. Fractures is still my favorite album for at least a couple weeks, but a 10 is the nuclear option, and after repeat listens I had to admit this wasn’t quite there. Still, a great album.
Recommended tracks: Fractures, Ends of Time Pt 1, Kairos
You may also like: Tanagra, Dimhav, Daydream XI (bandcamp)
Final verdict: 9/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Label: Capsaarx Records – Official Website
Dakesis is:
– Gemma Lawler (vocals, keyboards)
– Matt Jones (guitars, backing vocals)
– Amie Chatterley (bass)
– Adam Harris (drums)
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